Power mechanism.



W. Ha VOSS.

POWER MCHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 29, 1910.

hmm, l 00;,- Panted July 2, 1912.

n 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. H. V'0SS POWER MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1910.

Patented July 2, i932.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

c vti risica POWER MECHANISM.

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Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented July MM2.

Application led .Time 29, 1910. Serial No. 569,461.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Voss,` a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of lo'wa,have invented new and useful Power lifechanisms, of which the, following is a specification.

This invention relates to power mechanisms and rhas for its object the provision of novel ,means for actuating and controlling suitable driving members.

More specically considered, one object of my invention is to provide two separate and independent means for operating a suitable shaftsuch as, for instance, the wringer shaft or agitator shaft of a Washing machine--one of these means being motor driven and the other hand-operated. By means of this novel arrangement, it is possible to operate the shaft by hand, should the source of motive power for any reason be rendered unavailable or suddenly cut off.

Viewed from another aspect, my inveni tion comprises foot-controlled'clutch mechanism for throwing a suitable driving shaft into and out. of operative connection with the source of motive power used for oper ating the shaft. i

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.4 v

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which for-m part of this specication, and which show my invention as applied, for the sake of illustration, to a washing machine,

lignre l is a view. in elevation of a washing machine equipped with lny` invention; Fig. Q is a. side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. il, looking toward Fig. l from the right; Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly'in cross section, taken. on line Fig. l. showing the foot-controlled clutch mechanism; Fig. i is a detached view of the clutchmechanism and the associated gearing; -and Fig. is a detail view showing the support for the outer end of the font-operated arui or lever for controllingtln, wringer, as hereinafter described.

Referring non' to the drawings in detail, `the tub orbody portion l of the washing machine is provided with supporting legs L) `which are, near their lower ends, connected by brace rods 3 and 4f, as most clearly indicated in llig. 3.

The top et une 'washing machine is provided with a hinged cover 5 which supports the agitator shaft 6.. This shaft, as is well understood, extends vertically into the interior of the tub Where it is provided with a 5V? suitable agitator. The shaft G is given es cillatory movement by means of the .rack 'i' which is, at its outer end, pivotally connected at 8 with the operating lever 9. .he teeth of this rack are indicated bythe dotted 55 lines 7 in Fig. 2 and are adapted to mesh Awith a pinion secured to the shaft .6. ln

order to render the connection between the rack 7 and the lever 9 readily detachable, l have shown the rack provided at its enten end with a slot l() which arranged to ref ceive the pin 8 mounted in the socket 1l of the operating lever 9. The socket il. carried by the upper end of the bell crank lever '12 which is pivoted at 13 to the br:4 .het 11i, 7.5 the latter being rigidly secured to the side of the tub, as by screws or`bolts` lo. The

lower end of the bell crank lever lf2 eferably forli-shaped, so as to pcrmitthe connecting rod or pitman 1G to be readilvpivoted to said lever by means of the pin 17. The other end of the connecting rod ith is pivotally connected to the large geur 1S by means of the 'pin la which is er( ntrically carried by the vgear lS, as best own 35 in Figs. and l. in order to prevent frictional Contact between 'theconnecting. rod lli and the body of the. washing niucl'iine during operation, the connecting bar is curved at its nppc" end, as .indicated at 30, 9G The gear vvheel '.lSis lixedljv mounted upon one end of the sha 2l which is rtaatahli supported in bearings 22. Theselnarinoare carried by the base plate .lived to me silppo`rti11g platform This plattv'irin is 95' secured to tivo of the legs by., nuans of brackets or any other suitable devices. -ilse mounted upon this platform 2ln is the base plate '25, which is provided with bearing portions 2G. These bearing portions forni the lower halves of hearings, the upper halves ot' which are formed by the bearing caps or covers QT. which are securely bolted to the lower portions so as incomplete the bearings for the main poiver shaft, QS. At its outer end this main power shaft has Secured thereto the pulley or driving mendaci* 29, which is adapted to be connected with a suitable source of motive power, such as an electric motor, gas engine, etc.

I Various other arrangements may be used for connecting the power vshaft 28 with a l source of motlve power and I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as in any way limiting myself to any particular means for driving the y.shaft 28 by machine power. Broadly speaking, the wheel 29 mayproperly be considered as the source of machine power for driving the shaft 28. Mounted rotatably upon the shaft 28, .adjacent to the pulley or wheel 29, is the sleeve 30 which carries the sprocket 31. The' inner end of this sleeve is provided with clutch recesses 32, as shown in Fig. 4. Near the inner end of the power shaft 28 is'rotatably mounted the sleeve 33 carrying the pinion 34, which is arranged to be always in mesh with the largegear 18. The sleeve 33, like the sleeve 30,- is at its inner 'end provided with clutch recesses 35. The clutch surfaces of the sleeves 30 and 33 are preferably cam shaped, as indicated in Fig. 4.

' Between the sleeves 30 and 33 there is mounted on the shaft 28 theclutch member 36 adapted to rotate with the shaft 28 but arranged to be longitudinally shiftedon said shaft.' This. longitudinal movement of the clutch member 36 is permitted by reason of thepin 37 on the shaft 28 resting in the slot 38 formed in the clutch member 36. It

vis 'clear that this slot-and-pin connection between the main power shaft 28 and. the clutch member 36 compels the latter to rotate always in unison .with the shaft 28, but at the same time', permitsv it to beshifted along the shaft into operative engagement .either with 'the sleeve 30 or the sleeve 33, to

bring about a positive locking between the central clutch member 36 and. the sleeves either to` the right or 30 and 33. These may be considered to be 'the sidemembers of the clutch mechanism. I provide the central clutch member `with en projections 39 andl 40, which are adapt` ed to enter into the clutch recesses 32 and 35, respectively, when the' central clutch member is shiftedfrom its normal position to the left. The sprocket 31 is connected by a sprocket chain 41 with the large sprocket 42 fixed upon the Vwrin er shaft 43. The wringer, which may be o any well known and approved construction, is as a whole indicated by 44 and -oflth 1sV Th'es'procket 42 may be surrounded bythe housing 42 supported'from-the wringer 44 bymeans of thearmlor bracket 42h. The

vwringer mechanism is suitably supported on f-platform 45 extendingv from4 the top washing machine andheld in lplace e brackets'46. It will now be clear when the clutch member 36 is shifted engagement with the clutch sleeve 30, e w er mechanism will be operatively uned-thi? with the. wer shaft 28. From V'f .v/lugt ,has been sai before regarding the ,t'ed to beoperated by the shaft 43.

connection betweniI the agiitgr shaft 6' and e the gearv wheel 18, it will "apparent that when the' clutch member 36 is shifted into engagement. with the clutch sleeve 33, the` ag1tator shaft will be operatively connected with the power shaft 28 to oscillate back and forth as the rotation of the power shaft 28 into the oscillatory movement of the agitator shaft Gis accomplished by the eccentric connection between the pitman 16 and the' gear wheel 18,r as is obvious from a 'mere inspection of Fig. 2.

I come now to the :description of the'. mechanism which hasto do with controlling the position of the central'clutch member136.

A lever 47 which is approximatelyL-shaped? in plan, as maybe seen' from Fig. 3,- is' pivoted at its inner end tothe platform 24 .at

is provided with apin or stud 49 adapted'to beheld in the cy-y drical groove50, which is formed lon 'theclutch member 36 by means 'ofafpair 'of the point 48. This lever lin cylindrical fianges. 51. The longer portion of the L-shaped arm 47 -is bent upwardly at '52 and then extends 'outwardly beyond the bodyof the washing machine. .The cuter power shaft is continuously' rotated. .This conversion of the continuous end of the arm 47 is adapted to rest upon the horizontal portion of the bracket 53. This bracket has a vertical arm secured to the tub and a horizontal arm secured 'to one of the legs 2. A spring 54, secured at one end'to the arm or lever 47 and at its other end to one of the legs 2, is adapted to normally hold the lever 47 against the stop 55 whichis fixed to the horizontal arm of the bracket 53, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. One end of a-ch the other end of the chainis securedto the treadle 57. The chain 56' passes over the pulley 58 rotatably journaled to one of the legsv 2. The treadle 57 is, at its inner end, pivotally connected to the brace bar 4 by means of thehinge 59, as shown in- Fig. 3. It is obvious that by means of this arrangement, a downward movement .of the treadle 57 will result in a horizontal movement of the lever 47 about the point 48 in a direction indicated by the arrow 60 in Fig. 3. When the lever 47 which may properly be termed the clutch controlling lever, is thus moved by means of the treadle 57, the central clutch member 36 will be moved toward the right (as viewed'in Fig. 4) into engagement with the. sleeve 30, whereby the wringer is o eratively connected with the power sha 28. Upon release of the treadle, will move the lever 47 in the opposite direction against the stop 55. When the lever is in this position, which is its normal or ino rative siticn, as indicated in Fig. 4. VIn this nor-V position, the clutch member` 36 wil also b e 1n its normal or inoperative pc,

ain or cord 56 is secured I to the free or outer end of the lever 47, and

the spring y 54 und ntf-zitiert, the @hitch men'iber 3G Wifti ro- !:iie with the power .shaft but the teeves 30 "'L being' looaeir mounted on the shaft;

5* wid Jmmin stzitionz'iry 'until coupled to att, by means of the ehltch men'iber 36.4

mnd. wtnei 61A This; hand wheel be mounted on the Same shaft the sprocket t2 or .it may be mon :t separate shaft. which i5 either 'rh rari mounted i. operati .'eiy connected with the Wringer roiirs. filming; 'die operation ot? the Wringer, it .it become ne" iry to reverse the diretntion of the relis, the` operator te, which antonmti @mentethe n n er from the power the wringer by hand it Wii be seen is# adapted to be 1er one o: two Sepa nite and '1' wheel Gl. ,it for any reason the n'mcbine power shonid snddeniy ning the operation of the wringer, @er may be actuated by the hnnd.

n shaft. [i may either be opert. Y, mind ies/'er or it muy be driven from toe mein power shaft 28 by lifting the i "i ot' the lever fir-7 over the stop o5, itch, 'member SGwiii be moved viewed in Fig. af) into en- ;,itf with the dutch sur-"ace of the n3. NKlien thia` ione the pinion- Riti?, operiniveiy connected with the power shaft und 'the :igitutm Shnftt- G will therefore, be oss-eiiinted tinenggh the iarge gear 18, the Conner-ing red 1G, the iever 12 and the re- Cin'ocnting met( 7, which in n'ieshwit'n the pinion carried by the agitator Shaft. Y he (dutch. controlling' arm lil-Tis made sntiicientniy rwtiiient. to permit its being' iifted over the stop "di'hiie have here described one speeitie emijfot'timent ntf my inventioi'x, I xviii bi1 ve itA iinr'terstood that: the embodiment has been f'ieserii'ied iind shown by Way of illustration oniy, :ind `thnt, '\:,n.'ion:-;\ Chanel: :ind modifications may be resorted to 'vitdnont depnrting :trom the Scope o' inf; iiwentfion, iis de fined in the appended Sienne.

Having; thun deezeritwd my invention, what einiln ne" nenv :ind ,iefdret'o Se nre by' Letters Patent et the Vnited Hin t. In u. power in ri inifsin, ti monnjiinntiimi of :i support compr a, b j portion and Stumm-ting tege., :i tfiz'me secured to Enid bodyY portion md lmjybnd the. upper end theref mental Shaft join noted on Smid thune, u motordriven omver Shaft horixonhdiy jonrnaied on sind any port, beneath the bod)r portion thereof, a driving member on Huid power shnf, :i dri V ineT member tixet't :at one end of e d hori- Zontzd shntt, an operative eornieotion he tween said :Striving n'iefnbers', and n hfnidA one fated ,member seenred to Suid horizontiri shaft 'tniopernti the sume in either direction independently of :mid power Shziiti.

2. in n nerve mecimmmin the Combination of ai tramo-Work having ,i main body,f porimi und Supporting legs., rotntebie member monnted on Said bodyr porti'x, fr motordriven power shntt, anni ned beneath Seid body portion, drivl u Cfmneetions between Said member and smid power shzrt, Suid driving connections ineintfiing :i Sbiftabie clutch, :L hmimntziity ,mornin lever pivoted at; one end to the said tranne 'Work beneath the body portion thereof for shitting :51nd4 Clutch, n trendie` mounted beneath said body portion 'for operating the 'lever and :i spring Connected at one end to Suid iefer and the other1 end tvo said rmne werk for drrnving the lever to no1-imi position.

3. in a power mechanism, the combination ot :i 'i `;nne-\v ;ri n herizontni shaft roi'atahiy i'normted on top of Said ran1ewori-, nmotor driven power shaft jonrnnlee. in 'the tower riortion ot seid freine-vorig driving oonnee lons between Said, power Shaft und one end oit Suid hori/,ontd` ehnrft, n tremiie for eontroiiing Suid Connections, and :i` hand operated niember Secured to the other end of- Snid hfnizoi'itni Shaft for notnting the Same `in either direction independently of.

Said power Shaft,

4t; in a power n'leehnnis the efnni'iinrtion et i; .'fmme--wmk havinY1 u main body non tion und snpljiorting n horizontal, .shaft rotatably mounted on Suid body portion, u.

motor-driven power Shzrt, Supported.'beneath- Said body portion, drinne; emmeotions between sind member une d power sha" tion et a, framework haring; portion und supporting L5 i shaft for actuating thesame, a rotatable member supported on said -bodyv portion,

zontally movable lever vpivoted to said framewvork for operating said clutch device, and va vertically movable tr'eadle` for operatingsaid lever.-

6. In a power mechanism, the combina` tion of a frame-work having a maln body portionl andsupporting legs, a support secured between said legs, a motor-driven powershaft mounted on said support, a rotatable member supported on said body port-ion, 'driving connections between said member and said power shaft, said driving connectionsl including a shifting clutch device, a pivoted vlever for operating said clutch device, a treadle hinged on said frame-work beneath the body portion, and a flexible connection between said treadle and the free end of said lever.

7. In a ipower mechanism, the combination of a rame work having a main vbody vportion and supporting legs, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted on said body portion, a motor-driven vpower shaft supported 'beneath said body portion, driving connections between said member and said power shaft, said driving connections including an adjustable clutch, a lever for operating said clutch device, and a hand-operated element connected with said horizontal shaft for actuating the same independently of said power shaft.

8. In a power mechanism, the combination of a frame-workhaving a main body portion and supporting legs, a rotatable member mounted on said body portion, -a support between said legs, a motor-driven power shaftmounted on said support, driving connections between said member and said power shaft, said driving connections including a clutch device Vadjustably mounted on said power shaft, a horizontally movable lever pivoted to said,support for operating said clutch device,a treadle pivotedv to said frame-work beneath the body portion, a liexible connection betweensaid treadle and the free end of said lever, and a spring for returning said lever to normal position when the treadle is released.

9. -In a power mechanism, the combination of a frame-work having a main body portion 'and supporting legs, 4a rotatable vmember mounted on said body portion, a

support secured between said legs, avmotordriven power member mounted on'said support, driving connections between said member and said power shaft, said driving connections including "a clutch device adjustably mounted on said power shaft, 'ahorizontally movable lever. pivoted to said support for operating said clutch device, a treadle` pivoted to said frame-work beneath thebody portion, a flexible connection betweensaid treadle and t-he free end of said lever, a bracket secured to said-.framework for supporting the free end of said lever, a guiderpulley over which said flexible cennect-ion passes to cause horizontalfmovement. of said lever, and a spring for returning said lever to normal position when the treadle is released. 10. 4In a power mechanism, thecombination of a frame-work having a main body portion and supporting legs, a rotatable member mounted on said body portion, a support secured between said legs, amotordriven power shaft mounted on said vsupport, driving connections between said member and said power shaft, said driving connections including a clutch device adjustably mount-ed on said power shaft, a pivoted lever for operating said clutch device, 'a

treadle pivoted to said frame-workbeneatlr the body portion, a flexible connection be-v tween said ti'eadle and the free end of said I lever, `and means for locking said lever against operation by 'said treadle.

11. In a power mechanism, the combination of a frame-work having a main body portion and' supporting legs, a rotatable' member mounted on said body portion, a support secured between said legs, a motordriven power member mounted on said support, Vdriving connections between'said member and said power shaft, said driving connections including a clutch device adjustably mounted on said power shaft, a horizontally movable lever pivoted to said support for operating said clutch'device, a treadle pivoted to said frame-work -beneath the body portion, a flexible connection between sad'treadle and the free vend of said lever, a-

bracket secured to said frame-work for supporping the free end of said lever, a guide pulley over which said flexible connection passes to cause horizontal movement of said lever, Ya spring'for returning said lever to normal position when the treadle is released,

and a lug on said bracket for locking s'aid lever against operation by said treadle.

WILLIAM H. VOSS. Witnesses:

W.' R. LANE, EbWAim Voss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained` for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents',

Washington, D. G. 

